Spray gun



E. J. SANDERS ET AL 2,635,010

April 14, 1953 SPRAY GUN 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Feb. 27, 1950 April 14, 1953 E. J. SANDERS ET AL 2,635,010

SPRAY GUN Filed Feb. 27, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 MOEE d .9M/053s 'UZ-ALLEN WENS EDISON d'McCZH VE f INVENToRs.

Patented Apr. 14, 1953 SPRAY GUN Elmore J. Sanders, SanGabriel, John Allen Y Wiens, Burbank, and Edison J. McClave, Los AngelesfCalif.; said Wiens and said McClave assignors to said Sanders Application February 27, 1950, serial No. 140,416V

11 Claims. (C1. 299-140) This invention relates'generally to improved spray guns adapted for use in'any Vof various situations in which it may be desired to selectively discharge a pluralityof uids, and particularly intended for use in cleaning automobile engines.

The layer of accumulated dirt and grease found 'on the average automobile engine may be quickly and effectively removed by successive impingement of the engine surfaces with a series of streams or sprays of various cleaning fluids. For instance, a stream Vof compressed air may first be employed to remove all loose dirt from the engine surfaces, after which a suitable hydrocarbon solvent may be directed against the engine to dissolverand carry away the oil, grease and simi' lar constituents of the scale to be removed. Where water soluble dirt and other substances are found on the engine, a water spray or-a mixed spray of water and solvent is often highly effective as-a cleaning agent. At the completion of a cleaning job, a final jet of air may be employed to dry both the water and solvent from the engine surfaces.

The Ygeneral object of the present invention is to provide an improved spray gun especially adapted for use in cleaning an engine or the like according to the above fluid impingement method. Specifically, guns embodying the invention are capable of positively and effectively controlling a number of uids, as for instance compressed air, a hydrocarbon solvent, and water, without leakage, and with such simplicity of operation as to be useable in service stations and garages by virtually untrained personnel. Further, handling of the gun in use is facilitated by designing it to eject each of the various sprays in response to the sameeasily effected manipulation of a given operating element, preferably a trigger. As will appear, the particular fluid or fluids to be discharged by such actuation of the trigger may be easily selectable by the operation of a second control. Y

structurally, the gun may comprise a handle body having inlets for compressed air, water and solvents, respectively, all communicating with a common discharge nozzle. A iirst valve, preferably trigger actuated, may control the delivery of air to the nozzle, while a pair of individual poppet valves control the discharge of water and solvent to the nozzle. A particular feature of the invention involves the provision and constructionof a novel control unit, preferably a singlecam element, for selectively actuatingY the water and solvent poppet valves.

Y 'I'he above and further features and objects of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a first form of gun embodying the invention especially adapted for use in cleaning automobile engines;

Fig, 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the rear portion of the gun taken on line 2-2 of Fisf'l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view, partly in section, and showing especially the valve actuating means;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the water and solvent controlling poppet valves and their actuating cam taken online 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view of the gun showing the uid inlets and taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

iFig. 6 is a fragmentary side view of a second form of spray gun embodying the invention;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the second form of gun and taken on line 'l-'I of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on line 8-0-8 of Fig. 6.

Referring rst to Figs. 1 through 5 and particularly to Fig. l, the rst form of engine cleaning'spray gun there shown comprises essentially a handle bodyV I0, three inlet valve units II, I2 and I3 for controlling the flow of water, solvent and compressed airrespectively through the gun, a discharge tube or barrel I4 projecting forwardly from the body, a trigger I5 for actuating the air inlet valve to control the delivery of air to the discharge tube, and a control unit or cam I6 for selectively actuating the water and solvent inlet valves.

Body IU comprises a handle portion Il` and an upper forwardly projecting portionl I8, and preferably has an integrally formed hook'IQ on its uppersurface for suspending the gun from a suitable bracket when not in use. The upper rear portion of the body may be enlarged and containstwo upper and one lower rearwardly facing essentially cylindrical recesses 2d for'partial reception of the valve units.

For simplicity of construction and to facilitate replacement of valve-units II, I2 and I3, each is formed as a removable unitary` assembly, including a tubular fluid inlet body section 2| threadedly engaging the gun body at 2l and containing a poppet typevalve 2311,23?) or 23o, en-

gageable withan inner seat 22. A coil spring 3 24 normally retains each valve against its seat, and is itself retained within the body section by tubular insert 25 threaded into the outer end of the valve body. The three valves are carried oy three inwardly extending stems or actuating pins 26a, 2Gb andy 26c, respectively, each of which projects from the inner end of the corresponding valve body. Each of the valve units is spaced from the wall of the corresponding recess 2@ at a location inwardly beyond mounting threads 21- to form an annular passage into which fluid from within the valve unit flows through passages 28 when the valve is opened. The outer ends of the valve unit bodies are threaded at 29for connection to individual fluid supply lines (not shown) As will be understood, each valve is actuable between the closed position in which water valve 23a is shown in Fig. 4 and the open position of solvent valve 23h in thatiigure.

Discharge tube I4 is mounted at its rearward end to thev gun body, as by nut 30, and carries at its forward end a discharge nozzle 3| having a forwardly tapering and then straight cylindrical inner bore 32. A second and smaller tube 33 extends concentrically within outer tube I4, and is spaced from that outer tube to form an annular passage 34 through which water and solvent flow. The gun body contains a bore 35 at its forward end of a diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of tube I4 to form a rearward continuation of that tube, and contains a counterbore 36 at the rear of bore 35 within which inner tube 33 is frictionally retained.

Air inlet valve unit I3 communicates with the rear of inner tube 33 through a passage 31 in thegun body which extends first forwardly from the annular space about the inlet valve, then upwardly at an angle, and then forwardly into the tube. Similarly, the Water and solvent inlets communicate with the annular space 34 between the two delivery tubes through converging inclividual passages 38 leading into a common forwardly'extending passage 39.

Airvalve I3 is actuated by trigger I5 which is pivotally mounted to the body at 40. For this purpose, Vstem 26e of the air valve projects for- Wardly for engagement with the trigger to transmit trigger movement directly to the valve. Consequently, rearward swinging movement of the trigger opens the air valve to permit the discharge of a jet'of'high pressure air from the forward end 4|` of` the inner delivery tube 33.

The water Vand solvent controlling poppet valves 23a andV 23b are actuated by a single rotary cam element It extending transversely through the gun body immediately forwardly of the valves and having cam surfaces 42 and 43 engaging the actuating pins 26a and 26h of the two valves respectively (see Fig. 4) At one side of the body, cam element I6 has an operating knob'44 containing four annularly spaced detent recesses 45 in its inner surface cooperable with spring pressed detentv 46 to releasably retain the cam in any one of four positions. At the opposite side of the body, the cam is retained against axial movement by screw bolt 41. Suitable indicia 48 on the side of the gun body may indicate the setting of the cam.

The cam surfaces 42 and 43 are so designed and related that, in one position of the cam, both the water and solvent valves are closed so that only air escapes from the delivery tube upon actuation of the trigger. In a second rotative position of the cam, water valve 23a is opened to permit passage of water forwardly through the body .4 to annular space 34 between the two delivery tubes. The jet of air proceeding from the forward end of inner tube 4I acts to entrain this water in the manner of an ejector to produce a water spray. Similarly, in a third position of the cam the water valve is closed and the solvent valve is opened and a spray of solvent is delivered from the nozzle. in the fourth cam position, both the Water and solvent valves are open and a mixed spray is produced.

In usingrthe gun, individual Water, solvent and air supply hoses are first connected to the rearwardly projecting ends of the respective valve unit bodies il, I2 and I3. Air delivered to the gun. is under sufficient pressure to produce an effective spray, while the water and solvent are preferably at or near atmospheric pressure. To prepare an automobile engine for cleaning, the lubricating oil filling cap should be removed and a plug inserted in its place. All other parts of the engine may. beleft exposed to. thecleaning actionof the gun.

In cleaning an engine, selector cam I5 isrst turned to the position in which both the water and. solvent valves are closed, and trigger, I5.A is then actuated to emit a stream of high pressure air from the forward endeof the nozzle, to remove all loose dirt frointhe engine.- The cammay then be turned to a position in whichivalve '23h is opened and solvent iioWs into annular passage to be entrained in the airstream. andY impinge upon and clean the various engine surfaces. ff watervsoluble material is. foundon the engine, water may be entrained inthe air stream, either alone or with the solvent by a suitable setting ofthe cam. Finally, when the engine has been thoroughly cleaned, the cam may be returned to the position in which both the solvent and water valves areclosed, and a; stream of air alone may then be employed to quickly evaporate the water and solventv from the engine surfaces.

Figs. 6 through 8 show a variational form of gun embodying the invention in which a slide cani 49 is substituted'for the rotarycam of the Fig. l form. The gun of Figs. 'ri-through 8 in.- cludes a body 5) generally similar to the body of Fig. l and carrying a pair of concentric inner and outer delivery tubesl and e3', eachthreadedly mounted to the body. Air inlet valve unit :'53, projecting rearwardly from the body and communicating through passage 54 with the inner delivery tube, is actuated` by trigger 55 through stem 5E. v

Above valve 53, the body threadedly carries a pair of rearwardly extending'inlet ttings 5lV and 58 connectibie with a pair of water andV solvent supply hoses, respectively. Forwardly of; inlets and 53, body 5S. containsapair of transversely extending. boresil andtieachfforining an" an.- nular tapered valve seat di. intermediate its length with which a valve 32:. cooperates.V Each of these valves is spring pressed toward its seat by a coil spring 63 retained by anouterv plug-64. Water. flows. from. inlet.. 5i through body passage 35. to the forward bore 59, then. axially within that bore as permitted by thevalve, and nally forwardly' through passage 63 to the rear, of delivery tube 52. Similarly, solvent flows from inlet 58 through passage 6l to the rear bore 6e, then axially within that. bore, and forwardly through passagei.

Cam element 49 isl slidably received within recess 68. in the side of. the body, and` is guided for forward and rearward sliding movement retaining plates (i9A mounted to the body by' screws 10; Button 'H on the cam element projects outwardly beyond plates 69 to permit manualmovement of the cam. On its inner face, cam A9 has a pair of inwardly extending cam projections 'l2 and 13 engageable with actuating pins 'M of the water and solvent valves to operate those valves in accordance with movement of the cam.

The cam has four positions,.as in the previous form of the invention for the selective delivery of air alone, solvent, water, or solvent and water together. However, in this form it is noted that lthe camY retains the water valve very slightly open at l5 in the solvent delivering position Yof the valve, so that a small amount of water is discharged with' the solvent to eliminate any danger of Vvcombustion ofv the solvent spray. AThe` operation of the gun is the same as in the first form except with respect to the manner-of movement ofthe cam element between its various positions. y "We claim:

V1.,A spray gun comprising a handle body, a discharge nozzle carried by the body, said body containing first and second passages connectible to supplies of a pair of liquids respectively and communicating with said nozzle to deliver the liquids thereto, said body containing a third passage connectible to a supply of compressed air and directing said air outwardly through said nozzle to engage and entrain said liquids, a valve carried by the body and operable to control the delivery of compressed air from said third passage to the discharge nozzle, a pair of poppet valves carried bythe body in communication with said first and second .passages respectively and'operable toV control the Vdelivery of said liquids to the nozzle, a manually operable cam carried by the body for movement relative theretoand operable by said movement to selectively actuate said poppet valves, and a trigger carried by the body forY movement independently ofY saidfcam and adapted-to actuate said first mentioned valve independently of the operation of said poppet valves.

2. A spray gun comprising a handle body, discharge nozzle means carried by the body, said body containing'three passages connectible to o supplies of three fluids respectively and communicating with said discharge nozzle means to deliver the fluids thereto for discharge outwardly therefrom, first, second and third valve means carriedby the body in communication with said passages 'respectively and operable to controll the delivery of said three fluids respectively to the discharge nozzle means, control means movably carried by the body and operable to selectively actuate said rst and second valve means, said body containing in its outer surface an inlet recess communicable with the end of one of said passages, and a tubular inlet fitting partially received within said recess and adapted for connection to a corresponding fluid supply line, one of said valve means being mounted within said inlet fitting to control the fluid passage thereline,V discharge nozzle meansy carried bythe fr-7 ward portion of the body; said body -containingV arst passage for"conductingcompressed air from said third recess and fitting to the nozzle means for discharge therethrough, said body containing 'additional passagemeans for conducting said liquids'from the first and secondiittings to the nozzle meansr Vfor entrainmentiby the air stream, first, second andthirdpoppet valves in said fittings respectively for controlling the delivery of said liquids and air respectively to the nozzle means, a rotary cam mounted within said body at a location forwardly of said fittings in engagement with said first and second poppet valves and operable in two conditions to selectively actuate said first and second valves respectively and in a third condition to actuate them together, and a manually operable actuating element carried by the body for movement relative to the cam and operable toV actuate said third poppet valve independently of the operation of said first two valves.

4. A spray gun comprising a handle body having three fluid inlets, a first discharge tube carried by and projecting from said body, a second and smaller tube projecting fromthe body `within and annularly spaced from the first tube, means forming a discharge nozzle at Vthe forward end of said first tube through which both of the tubes discharge, means for conducting fluid from two of said inlets into the annular space between the tubes, means conducting pressure fluid from the third inlet into said second tube to flow outwardly from the forward. end thereof through the nozzle `and induce a corresponding flow of fluid from the space between the tubes, a pair of poppet valves carried by the body in communication with said two inlets respectively and operable to control the delivery of uids from said two inlets to said annular space, a manually operable control cam carried by the body for movement relative thereto and operable by said movement to selectively actuate said poppet valves, a third valve for controlling the delivery of fluid from the third inlet to said second tube, and an actuating element carried by the body for movement relative to the cam and operable to actuate the third valve independently of the operation of the poppet valves.

5. A spray gun comprising a handle body having first, second and third rearwardly facing recesses in its rear surface, first, second and third tubular inlet fittings partially received within and projecting rearwardly from said recesses respectively and connectible respectively to two liquid supply lines and a compressed air supply line, a first discharge tube carried by and projecting forwardly from the body, a second and smaller tube projecting from the body within and annularly spaced from the first tube, a discharge nozzle at the forward end of said first tube through which both of said tubes discharge, said body containing a rst passage for conducting compressed air from said third recess and fitting into said second tube for discharge from the forward end thereof through said nozzle, said body containing additional passage means for conducting said liquids from said first and second fittings to the nozzle for entrainment by the air stream, first, second and third poppet valves in said fittings respectively for controlling the delivery of said liquids and air respectively to the nozzle, a rotary cam mounted within said body at a location forwardly of said fittings in engagement with said first and second poppet apesol-o;

7 valves, andi. operable:` in: two. conditions; respee" tively vto Aselectivelii;actuate saidy first t and-second valves,- .in a .third A`condition to;.-actuate.them tof gether, and in aafourthxcond-ition,topermit both valves to. substantially.;l close; and; a; manuallyy operable'V trigger r carried.; by the body for movee ment relativev topthefcami and :operable-to actuatey said thirdY poppetfy valve. independently: ofi the operation of' the' irstltwo-V 'Valvesf 6. Ai spray gunl eoirnfnrising.` a1; handlepbody; `a: discharge',nozzle-carried :atrai fo-rwardfside:` of .the body, irst, second :andlthird-tubular inlet-.fittings projecting: rearwardly.- front-s aidibody Lfor connec tion'to supplyli'nes forcompressed airfandftwo: liquids respectively-,5 said. body.; containing, a1=.pas. sagegforv conductingzair iiromtherstLttngff to said i discharge I.nozzle-,1 tot:4 ilow.' outwardly therethrough;l a irstlpoppet Lvalve vcarried by thebOdy withinsaid rstfinlete ttingrfor controlling the; deluleryriof airftoth'e nozzle,Vv a trigger movably carried :by thevbod'y fandfoperable: to ractuate Isaid.. irst poppet valve, a pair oi'.'second-2andiY third popptvalves oarriedivbycthef. body in `sid'efrby side relation )andi having their s axesu extending f laterally ofi t'nefY body; saidfbody containing:A passagesl for-.conducting said liquidsefrcrh lsaid secondi and: third inlets respectively-tei saiclfsecond` andi vthird poppetralves and 4then:.tothe nozzle sa that Asaid secondi andfthirdl valvesfcont-rol the delivery ot thel liquidstothefnozzl'efandamanuallyfoperablefcene trol element carriedl-by-tl-ieb'od,7 :for-sliding moves menty aibn-gf one: side-thereof between a plurality' -ofcontrol positions, sardi:element-havingi-nner cant surfaces -4 engageabl'e-v ith said second tand5 third poppetaval'ves tof controll their actuation and loperable -in two ofsaid'iposiltions respectively to ,selectively actuate saidi Valves; in athirdposition to actuate'-tl'iern-v together, anduin a yfourth posi; tionE to permit-'both valvesrtesubstantially close:

7.' AH spray'f guilecom-prisifng a portable-body adapted `toL beV held in. the hand of an operator;- aA discharge /nozzlestructure carried by the body',- saidibodyl contain-ing; irst and "second-passagesconnectablelto supplies'of'irstandt secondi liquids' respectively and communica-ting V-withsaidnozzle structure-to-deliver liquids thereto; sa-id body'cond tainingv a third 'passage connectable' to "arsuppl'y of compressed a-irand directingv said'ai1/outwa'rdli'fY through the nozzle structure at a location tofen gage and entrain said'fli'duids, a-lii'rst'lmanual actuating lelement `-rnovablyY carried-bythe"body;V poppetvalvemeans in4 said-bodyA -operableby said element between two'--control positionslandlfor controlling liquid-flow through` both or said first and secondl passages, saidval've means a-'fiirstl ofsaid positions beingv positioned to atleast reA` 8 strict the ,liquid :flow` through saidv firstl passage While passing ay fullflowoi said. second'liquid throughfzsadasecondpassage to thenozzle struc ture; andzin thefsecondipositionto at least restrict theliquidzlow through said second vpassa-ge While passing afull flow of said rst liquid through said .rstpassagez to` the nozzle structure, a second manual 'actuating element mounted 'on .the body for. movement relative'fthereto and relative to said first actuating element, and an additional `valve operable bysaid second;actuating'elexnent independently of 'said irst-nientioned Valve means for controlling the deliveryy of compressed. air through Said third passage.

l Sle-spray gun'as recited'in claim?, in which said firstactuatng element comprises a cam'acting against said poppet-valvemeans.

91 Aspray gun as recited Ain claim 7, inwhich sai-d Valve Ameans' is operable in said: rstposition to completely close of liquidflowv through saidv rst passage, and in said seco-nd positionto completelyv closey oi liquid flewy through said-secondpassage.

10. A spray gun as recited in claiml 2, ini Which saidvalve means is operablefby said-first' actuating elementto a thirdfcontrol position in which it passes'a full flow oi both of said liquids through said rst and second passages to thenozzle str-ucture.

11.-A spray gun' as recited in claim 10, in'which said'valve means is operable bysaid' iirst actuating element to a fourth control position, invwhich it closes ofi the liquid `flow through vbothl of saidy rst and secondpassages tothefnozzle structure.

ELMORE J. SANDERS. J OHNALLEN WI-Ellr EDIS'QN J. y MGCLAVEL Ref'ei-encesA Cited. .in the, ilev of.v this patent UNITED `STATES PAI'EN'IS Number Name Date 1,128,302 Fausekfetal-g Feb. 16,` 1915 1,362,223` Cleveland-- Dec. 141920 1,642,101 Clinton Sept. 13,1927 1,644,081 Preble f Oct.. 4,' 1927 1,742,669 Ross Jan. 7, 1930 11,763,046: Irlei'fnlourgery JunelO; 1,930 1,781,603- Schoriz. Nov., 11, 1930 1,938,454 l KellanV -Dec.5,V 1933v 2,641,482 Paasche May 19a-1936 2,095,789 f Bucknam Oct..12,,19?7'V 2,338,101k Ellinwood. ,Jan. 4:; 1944 2,430,697Y Allan f i Nov.. 11,1947 2,511,626 v Einbecker, .June.f13,.11950y 2,564,392 VBurruclter A.Aug. .14,1951v 

